Spacing element for rotary indices



W. HINES SPACING ELEMENT FOR ROTARY INDIES Filed Feb. 14. 1924 April 14, 1925.

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William Hines atto@ mq (Patented pr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM EINES, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPACING ELEMENT IOR ROTARY INDICES.

Application filed February 14, 1924. Serial No. 692,926.

Tonll iii/0m it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HINES, a citizen of the United States and a resident of lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Spacing Element for Rotary Indices, of which the following description9 in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is arspecilication.

rlhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in indices of the rotary or book type, involving a series of hinged leaves and has for its primary object` to provide a simple and convenient spacing element adapted to be disposed between the leaves of the index, to effect their separation, while the records which they carry are being copied or inspected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spacer, which is simple, inexpensive and readily attached to any index of the type indicated to maintain the leaves at any desired angle, and which maybe quickly disposed in operativeor inoperativeposition according to the requirements of the individual inspecting the records. j

Vith the above and other ob 'ects in view this invention consists in certain novel details of construction, combination and ar-v rangement of parts to be more specifically hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters z j Fig. l., is a perspective view showing a mtary index .lile and stand 'with index spacer attached thereto and in operative position.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary top plan view of Figure 1.

Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the index marker.

Fig. t, lis a side elevation of Figure 3, partly broken away, and showing in dotted lines, the lowered position of the spacer.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention, there iS shown a vertically mounted rotary index of the boolr type, consisting of covers (1) and a plurality of leaves (2) containing filing pockets (3). The cover and leaves are hinged to a, vertical standard (-1) mounted on the circular top (5) of stand The preceding structure being common to all indices of the type mentioned, is recited for descriptive purposes only.

Coming now to the subject matter of the present invention, to the top (5) is clamped my proposed index Spacer (7), which is Shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4:. This spacer involves a clamp (8) U-shaped in eoniiguration to embrace the edge of the top (5) and is retained in position by means of the thumb screw Projecting outwardly from theV clamp (8) are two lugs (10) between which is pivoted the lower end of arm (11).

The lower portion of the arm (11) is cylindrical in form except at the surfaces (12) and (13) which are flattened to conform to the engaging surface (14E) of the spring (15)', the latter being. attached to the clamp (8) by means of the set screw (16). The spring (15) retains the arm (11) in either an upright or horizontal position when engaged respectively with Surfaces (12) or (13).

At the upper extremity of the arm (11) is a hollow cylindrical T member (17) adapted to receive Van internally threaded sleeve (18), which is retained therein by means of the set screwV (19).

In threaded engagement withthe interior of the sleeve (18) are two shanlrs (20), the outer ends of which are conical in form. The Sleeve (18) and threaded Shanks (20) form an extendable spacing element which may be elongated in either direction.

1Zhen the index spacer is clamped to the base as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the arm placed in an upright position the conical ends are brought into contact with lthe leaves to hold them in spaced relation during'inspcction of the records located in the pockets .of such leaves.

Should it be desirable to vary the distance between the leaves when they are held apart by the spacer it is merely necessary to adjust the shanks to increase or decrease the length of the spacing element lil() as will be apparent without further disi cussion.

When it is necessary to remove the spacer from-operative position between the leaves this may be accomplished by-actuating the arm (11) to a horizontal position whereupon the index may be rotated as desired.

1n conclusion it is evident this invention provides a simple expedient which may be liU conveniently disposed to effectively maintain the leaves of the index in suitably spaced relation While inspection is being made.

Although in the foregoing certain elcinents have been described as best adapted to perform the functions allotted to them, nevertheless it is to bel understood that various minor changes may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims without departingv from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having' described my invention, What I claim as new and Wish to secure by Letters Patent-is:

l. The combination with a rotary index including a series of' hinged leaves and a support for the index; of a clan'iping` meniber aflixed to the support, an arm pivotally connected to the clamping` member and having vertical and horizontal positions, an extendable cross-head mounted on the free end of the arm and forming a spacing' element, said element being` located exterior of the index when the arm is' in a horizontal position and between the index leaves to effect a predetermined spacing thereof when said armis in a vertical position.

2. The combination with la rotary index including a series of hinged leaves and a support for the index; of a clamping member aiiixed to the support, an arm pivotally connected to the clamping member having a resilient means coacting with the arm to retain the latter in a horizontal and vertical position, an extendable cross-head mounted on the free end of the arm and functioningas a spacing element, said element being located exterior of the index Whenthe arm is in a horizontal position and between the index leaves to effect al predetermined spacing thereof when the said arm is in a vertical position.

3. A spacingY element of the character; designated comprising` a clamp adapted to engage a support, an arm pivote-d at its lower end to the clamp, complemental means on the arm and clamp to maintain the former in either horizontal or vertical positions, and an extendable cross-head on the free end of the arm.

' IVILLIAM I-IINES. 

